Oman Observer

LONDON — Victories for Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal yesterday meant there was no change at the top of the English Premier League. Three second-half goals gave Liverpool a 3-1 win at struggling Blackburn Rovers, while Chelsea won 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers, meaning that the Merseyside club's one point lead remains intact.

MILAN — AC Milan are struggling to adapt to the tactical changes made necessary by Ronaldinho's arrival, his Brazil team-mate Kaka said. Ronaldinho moved to the seven-time European champions from Barcelona in the close season and has scored seven goals in Serie A. However, Milan have not won in four games in all competitions and Kaka has been less impressive...

ROME — AC Milan and Juventus suffered major injury blows yesterday as they bid to try to catch Italian Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Milan will be without Ronaldinho and Clarence Seedorf for the visit of Catania today while Alessandro Del Piero is out of Juventus's trip to Lecce. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is already without defenders Daniele Bonera and Alessandro Nesta,...

LONDON — Manchester United defender Patrice Evra was banned for four matches and fined £15,000 ($22,010) by the FA on Friday for his part in a fracas at Chelsea in April. The FA's regulatory commission found the French international guilty of four charges of improper conduct after he clashed with Chelsea groundstaff member Sam Bethell during a warm-down on the pitch...

AUCKLAND — David Beckham led his LA Galaxy team to a 3-0 win over an Oceania All Stars XI here yesterday as he chalked up valuable time on the pitch before joining AC Milan on loan in January. Beckham, who played all but the final 10 minutes of the exhibition match at Mt Smart Stadium, kept the regional invitation side on the defensive with his superior levels of skill.

Boyd hat-trick shines in Rangers’ magnificent seven

GLASGOW — A Kris Boyd hat-trick helped Rangers to come from behind to record the biggest win of the season with a 7-1 defeat of ten-man Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League at Ibrox. Hamilton's attacking 3-4-3 formation appeared to be working wonders when the visitors took the lead through James McArthur after just 2 minutes, but that goal stung the hosts into action.

BERLIN — Schalke 04 recovered from their midweek UEFA Cup defeat by Twente Enschede to overcome Hertha Berlin 1-0
to climb to sixth in the German Bundesliga yesterday. Surprise packages Hoffenheim still lead the table with 34 points from 16 games despite a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich on Friday. Bayern have the same points but are second on goal difference...

Delirious Indian fans delight Diego

KOLKATA — Soccer superstar Diego Maradona said yesterday he was greatly touched by the frenzy over his brief visit
here and promised to come back to India again in future. “It has been beyond my imagination,” a visibly moved Maradona told reporters through an interpreter. “I did not know that I had so many fans in India and people of the country loved football...